Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision © Bob Tennenbaum December 2007 County Executive Ken Ulman County Executive Jessica Feldmark Senior Advisor Ian Kennedy Executive Assistant Department of Marsha S. McLaughlin Director Planning & Zoning Steve Lafferty Deputy Director Kimberley Flowers Deputy Director Carl Balser Chief, Transportation George Beisser Chief, Public Service & Zoning Administration Jeff Bronow Chief, Research Chuck Dammers Chief, Development Engineering Cindy Hamilton Chief, Land Development Elmina Hilsenrath Chief, Environmental & Community Planning Contributing Staff Bill Mackey, Project Manager Thomas Sprenkle Dace Blaumanis Samantha Stoney Randy Clay Focus Group Elizabeth Bobo Bridget Mugane Maggie Brown Toby Orenstein Cynthia Coyle Jane Parrish Andre DeVerneil Mary Pivar Doug Godine Lee Richardson Karen Gray Mohammed Saleem Rob Hollis Paul Skalny Phil Kirsch Tim Sosinski Pat Laidig Richard Talkin Jud Malone Bob Tennenbaum Nancy McCord Hugh Tousey Dennis Miller Chris Tsein Consultants Cy Paumier Sabra, Wang & Associates, Inc. Design Collective, Inc. Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision A Letter from the County Executive “Over the coming years and decades, this vision will guide us towards a truly special downtown that connects our community, respects the environment, balances growth and includes everyone.” Dear Neighbor, Two years ago we began a community-driven process to outline the future of Down- town Columbia. Now, after significant public discussion and engagement, I am proud to present the culmination of this effort, Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision. As an embodiment of the principles that define our community and the vision that guides it, this document provides the necessary framework to achieve a downtown the community desires, one that preserves Columbia’s character and reflects the values on which it was founded. Over the coming years and decades, this vision will guide us towards a truly special downtown that connects our community, respects the environment, balances growth and includes everyone. This document grew out of a wide range of input from many interested individu- als and groups as the public dialogue about Downtown Columbia evolved during the past two years. Over the last few months, the public has had the opportunity to review a draft of this framework and has provided compelling, thoughtful com- ments that helped shape the final form. One of the more notable suggestions offered was that there should be a greater level of detail within this document’s vision statements. While I appreciate and agree with many of the specific ideas that were proposed, I remain committed to the notion that this document should serve as a broad framework for the future rather a prescriptive set of specific regulations. It is my hope and sincere belief that initially defining our goals as bold visions will foster creative and ambitious approaches in meeting them. For the first time in Columbia’s history the County has taken the initial step of setting a high bar for future develop- ment by establishing a vision for what Downtown Columbia can and should be. Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision As the planning process for Downtown Columbia moves forward, first with General Growth Properties’ proposal of a downtown development master plan to achieve the vision described in this document and then through the public review of that proposal by the Planning Board and the County Council, your ongoing participation is critical. The decision-making authority for zoning matters and the adoption of any master plan for downtown lies with the County Council. While the County Admin- istration will provide guidance to the Council through the Department of Planning and Zoning, the Council will want and need continued guidance from the public as well. Citizens can and must be active participants if we are to establish a plan that truly achieves the vision of this framework and this community. I thank you for your interest and involvement in shaping the future of Columbia and Howard County. I look forward to working with you as we finalize a master plan for Downtown Columbia, and I am also aware that this plan is not the end, but rather the beginning of a downtown that is truly worthy of the community it centers. Sincerely, Ken Ulman County Executive Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision A Letter from the Planning Director Mort Hoppenfeld, Columbia’s original chief planner, chal- lenged us all when he said, “To build a better city is to work at the heart of civilization.” To All County Citizens, The Department of Planning & Zoning is pleased to present Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision. After six public outreach sessions and a great deal of citizen input, we believe this document articulates community consensus points about the future of Downtown. While the draft that was issued in September was gener- ally well received, this document has been refined to address many issues raised during the public comment period. Amongst the refinements are an expansion of ideas related to environmental sustainability, further discussion of issues such as public space, civic life and transportation, and inclusion of a flow chart outlining the processes to be used for adopting a downtown development master plan and the accompanying zoning changes. We also heard varying views regarding the need for greater specificity, and sugges- tions to replace the words “should or may” with “shall or must”. However, the vision framework is intended to allow property owners the flexibility necessary to propose a master plan that creatively captures the core values and concepts expressed by Downtown’s many stakeholders. The framework articulates our shared vision of a Downtown that makes a special place, connects the community, respects the envi- ronment, balances growth and includes everyone. The process, by which the master plan proposal and associated zoning will be vetted and adopted by the County Coun- cil, will establish appropriate requirements and controls. As in the draft, this docu- ment describes the vision in five themes, each detailed by vision statements. The 23 vision statements build upon and seek to extend James Rouse’s vision for Columbia so that it will become a model community for the 21st century. Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision Mort Hoppenfeld, Columbia’s original chief planner, challenged us all when he said, “To build a better city is to work at the heart of civilization.” This is no small task. Change is often both exciting and unsettling at the same time. Fortunately, change doesn’t occur overnight and there will be many, ongoing opportunities to continue to participate in guiding Downtown’s evolution over the next year and years to come. Thank you for taking the time to help develop Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision. We look forward to working with you to help Columbia’s Downtown achieve its potential to be a very special place—a place that will serve us well now and for generations to come. If at any time you have a question or would like to comment on this document, please feel free to visit us at www.howardcountymd.gov (select Downtown Columbia Update). Sincerely, Marsha S. McLaughlin, Director Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision Table of Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Making a Special Place 9 Chapter 2: Moving and Connecting People 19 Chapter 3: Sustaining the Environment 27 Chapter 4: Balancing and Phasing Growth 33 Chapter 5: Involving Everyone 37 Appendix A: Master Plan & Zoning Approach 41 Appendix B: Traffic Analysis 43 Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision Introduction “ We have in our hands the opportunity to make our city—in our generation— the most livable, the most beautiful, and the most effective city in America.” Jim Rouse From its inception, much was expected of perhaps most importantly, the belief that, in Columbia, and this is still true today, over founder Jim Rouse’s words, “what ought to ©David Hobby 40 years later. Unlike many other communi- be, can be.” ties—planned or otherwise—Columbia is more than just a collection of buildings, a Throughout the planning and construc- center for commerce or a place for residents tion of Columbia, Jim Rouse described four to rest their heads at night. Columbia is, objectives for designing a rational city as a and always has been, a community built model for other developers to follow. These on principles, ideals, a shared vision and, four objectives are expressed in his own words below. Jim Rouse’s Vision for Planning Columbia We set four main objectives in our planning: . To provide a real City—not just a better suburb, but a comprehensively balanced commu- nity... To respect the land. With sets of overlays we recorded the topography, the stream valleys, the forests, the southeastern slopes, the historic buildings, the special vistas, the quiet tree lined areas. We allowed the land to impose itself as a discipline on the form of the Commu- nity... To provide the best possible environment for the growth of people. It would seem elemen- tary that cities should be planned for people… We wanted to allow these overlays, these insights about people, to influence the physical plan and the institutions we should seek to stimulate in the community just as we allowed the plan to be influenced by the land itself... Our fourth goal was profit. This was no residual goal, not something just hoped for. It was our primary objective... Source: “Great Cities for a Great Society,” speech given to the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chicago Chap- ter of the American Institute of Architects on April 8, 1965. Provided courtesy of the Columbia Archives. Downtown Columbia: A Community Vision Introduction City of Rockville, MD Community members voiced Although not perfect, Columbia has demon- their desire for a vibrant strated that seemingly lofty goals are cer- Downtown with a diverse mix of uses, open spaces tainly within reach.